The Braves famously signed Brandon Beachy and Wes Parsons out of summer collegiate leagues, and they went back to that well to ink Weatherford (Texas) JC righthander Dustin Emmons, whom they scouted in the Coastal Plain League. He topped out a 97 mph and notched a 27/6 SO/BB ratio in 15 innings with Edenton.

A righthander by the name of Dustin Emmons also pitched in the Mets system in 2011, but this is a different pitcher with the same name.

Double-A Tennessee right fielder Jorge Soler made his second triumphant return from the disabled list this season, returning to the Southern League on July 6 and going 9-for-18 (.500) with three homers and two doubles in six games. He has played just 20 games this season as he’s dealt with hamstring injuries to both legs.

The best defensive catcher in the Indians system for four years running, 25-year-old Roberto Perez began to show life with the bat this season at Triple-A Columbus, hitting .305/.405/.517 with eight homers in 174 at-bats. The Clippers play in a favorable hitter’s park, so Perez’s road performance (.270/.353/.483) better indicates his level of improvement.

Triple-A Oklahoma City righty Nick Tropeano ranks second in the Pacific Coast League with a 2.38 ERA and third with a 0.95 WHIP, and in a season more like the past three Astros campaigns, he almost certainly would have received a big league callup by now. However, Houston starters this year have a collective 4.07 ERA, which ranks them 21st in baseball, after ranking 28th last year.

The Brewers enhanced their international bonus pool amount by $339,000 by trading 24-year-old Cuban righthander Rodolfo Fernandez to the Athletics. The additional funds pushed Milwaukee’s total bonus pool amount to $2,950,800, freeing the club to sign Dominican third baseman Gilbert Lara, the No. 5 international prospect in this year’s class, for $3.1 million.

Midseason No. 1 prospect in the game Byron Buxton returned from the disabled list on July 6 and went hitless in his first eight at-bats at high Class A Fort Myers. The rust is understandable given that the center fielder has dealt with a wrist injury all season, missing all of April and then another two months beginning on May 8.

The Rays dealt Double-A Montgomery righthander Matt Ramsey to the Marlins for three international bonus slots—giving them an additional $1,000,800 to spend on international amateur talent—though the 24-year-old initially thought he was the butt of a joke when told of the trade. Ramsey, a 19th-round pick from Tennessee in 2011, ranks among the most dominant relievers in the Southern League with a .143 opponent average and 12.2 strikeouts per nine innings.

Tampa Bay pushed its international bonus pool to $2,998,900 with the trade and immediately put the funds to work, signing Dominican shortstop Adrian Rondon, the No. 1 international prospect in this year’s class, for $2.95 million.